Solihull Living Nov - Dec 2023

A STOPOVER
to remember
W Dubai - Mina Seyahi
With over two thirds of the world’s population living within an eight-hour flight
of Dubai, it’s little wonder that it’s such a hub for travel. If your next long haul
trip sees you transiting through, Katie Thomson has some suggestions about
how to turn your stopover into a trip to remember.
I’ve usually been in the camp of
‘direct flights only, just get me on
holiday as quickly as possible’
but a stopover is both financially
economical and sometimes the only
option for certain destinations.
But, instead of whiling away four
hours between flights with endless
phone scrolling or duty-free
shopping, I decided on my most
recent trip to the Maldives to make
more of the journey, with three
night stopover in Dubai. And you
know what? I’m now a fully paid-up
stopover super-fan, and I want to
tell you what not to miss.
ACTIVITIES
Dubai really is the city of activities
- whether you are a thrill-seeker, a
history buff or a die-hard shopper,
you’ll be well-catered for.
As this was a short stopover,
we wanted to explore Dubai in a
different way, so opted to see more
of the city by water on a HERO
Dubai Sunset Boat Tour.
These two-person boats can reach
speeds of up to 50kph and are a fun
alternative to sightseeing Dubai’s
beautiful skylines. You’ll stop at
famous landmarks like Burj Al Arab,
Ain Dubai, the Palm islands and
many more, whilst getting to test
your handling skills and take in
some panoramic vistas.
You’re taken out by an experienced
guide, who’ll point out the
architectural gems, alongside the
palatial holiday homes of Emirati
royalty.
Dubai is sometimes considered
to be a bit of a culture-vacuum,
but if you’re interested in learning
more about the Bedouin lifestyle, a
Platinum Heritage Tour is the perfect
way to see Dubai’s protected
deserts and understand more about
the history of the region.
Eco-friendly tours take in the sites of
Dubai’s deserts in luxury - there are
lots of options, including camping
out overnight, but we decided on
a ride in a 1950s open-top Land
Rover. The tour started by decking
us out for the desert with our own
headscarfs and cooler water bottles,
before a drive through the rolling
sand dunes. The visit included
lots of information about the local
flora and fauna, a soaring falconry
display and culminated with a feast
in a Bedouin camp, complete with
a drum show and astronomy talk.
It was such a wonderful way to get
an insight into a completely different
side of Dubai, and one I’d implore
anyone to make time for.
STAY
A fantastic base for exploration is
the beautiful W Dubai - Mina Seyahi
- part of the Westin complex, guests
can enjoy all the amenities of three
hotels in one location.
From a winding child-friendly pool
and on-site waterpark, to an adult’s
only pool, plus a fantastic swim up
bar, the resort caters for all travelling
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